LIVERWORTS - Liverworts were the first plants able to live out of water, and they must still have very wet conditions with the air saturated with moisture, which is assured here by the continuous spray from the waterfall. Liverworts have no roots, but are attached to the ground by numerous elongated cells, called rhizoids. They have microscopic male and female organs, and at certain times of the year the male organs produce sperm, which swim through the film of moisture and fertilise the eggs in the female organs. The fertilised egg then grows into a stalk and capsule, which may be like a tiny pin or umbrella, according to the species. These produce spores, which are scattered by tiny twisting threads, known as elaters. Some Liverworts have, in addition, little cups containing gemmae that look like tiny eggs. These are small portions of the plant, which break off and are distributed by rain.

MOSSES - Mosses are very like liverworts in several ways but they do have simple stems and small leaves. The male and female organs are contained in the leafy rosettes, which form at the ends of the stems and branches, and the resulting capsule is like a tiny pepper-pot.

FERNS - These are more advanced than mosses and liverworts, as they have real roots and stems with vessels to carry water and food. so they can live in much drier situations. The large leafy stage, that we see and recognise as a fern, corresponds to the capsule stage of a moss or liverwort. The spores are produced on the backs of the fronds, and are blown about by the wind. If they land in suitably damp conditions, the spores will grow into tiny flat heart-shaped prothalli, no larger than a half-penny piece, rather like a small liverwort. The prothallus bears the male and female organs, and once again the fertilised egg will grow into a new clump of fern. So the Male Fern and the Lady Fern are different species of fern, and have nothing to do with sex. Both are found here.

HORSETAILS - These are survivors of a very ancient group of plants, which were once very common and grew into large trees. Their fossilised remains we know as coal. They spread by underground stems, or rhizomes, and early in the season fertile shoots, without branches, appear bearing cone-like structures at the top, which produce spores. As these die away, stronger and taller shoots appear with whorls of green branches, which are able to make food, which is passed down and stored in the rhizomes for further growth next year.

LICHENS - These are dual-plants, made up of a fungus and a green alga growing together to their mutual benefit.